Department of English

What is sexuality? Does it exist in the body or in the mind? Is it a collection of actions, desires, and fantasies, or is it rather a disposition, a way of seeing oneself, an identity? Does what we want depend on who we are? Does what we do define who we are? This course will address such questions by introducing students to several classic texts in the history and theory of sexuality and by looking at key moments in the struggle for sexual and gender freedom. The history we trace will focus on the effects of the “invention of homosexuality” in the late-nineteenth century; the history of butch/femme community; the cultural moment of Stonewall and gay liberation; the “Sex Wars” of the 1980s; women of color feminism and queer of color critiques; responses to HIV/AIDS; and transgender politics.

Recitation details will be visible in Path@Penn.

ENGL 1300.402/GSWS 1300.402 Caleb Lewis - Recitation F 12-12:59pm, office assignment:  325 FBH

ENGL 1300.403/GSWS 1300.403 Ariana Rodriguez - Recitation F 12-12:59pm, office assignment:  325 FBH

ENGL 1300.404/GSWS 1300.404 Rylee Smith - Recitation F 12-12:59pm, office assignment: 118 FBH

ENGL 1300.405/GSWS 1300.405 Kayleigh Voss - Recitation F 12-12:59pm, office assignment:  118 FBH